ICMR Chief Rajiv Bahl and NITI Aayog’s VK Paul Dispute UK Study on Covid-19 Deaths in India
New Delhi, India – July 20: Rajiv Bahl, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has stated that it is incorrect to consider other sources after the central government rejected a UK study claiming 11.8 lakh excess deaths in India during the 2020 Covid pandemic.
Clarification on Excess Mortality
Rajiv Bahl explained that the study looked at all deaths, not just those caused by Covid-19. He emphasized the importance of using high-quality data from India’s Civil Registration System, which reports over 99% of deaths.
NITI Aayog’s VK Paul’s Response
VK Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, dismissed the study as ‘outrageous’ and criticized its methodology, which he said relied heavily on extrapolation from data in only 14 states and Union Territories. Paul argued that the study was poorly conducted and led to misleading results.
Government’s Stand
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also criticized the study, stating that India’s Civil Registration System is robust and captures over 99% of deaths. The ministry noted that the increase in death registrations in 2020 was consistent with trends from previous years and not solely due to the pandemic.
The ministry strongly asserted that the reported 11.9 lakh excess deaths in the study were a gross overestimate and misleading. They clarified that excess mortality includes all causes of death and should not be equated with Covid-19 deaths alone.
Doubts Revealed
ICMR -: ICMR stands for Indian Council of Medical Research. It is the top body in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research.
Rajiv Bahl -: Rajiv Bahl is the Director General of ICMR. He is a senior official responsible for overseeing medical research in India.
NITI Aayog -: NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India. It provides strategic and technical advice to the central and state governments.
VK Paul -: VK Paul is a member of NITI Aayog. He is involved in health policy and planning in India.
UK Study -: The UK study refers to research conducted by scientists in the United Kingdom. This study claimed that there were 11.8 lakh (1.18 million) excess deaths in India during the 2020 Covid pandemic.
Civil Registration System -: The Civil Registration System in India is a government system that records all births and deaths. It helps in keeping track of the population and vital statistics.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare -: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is a government ministry in India. It is responsible for health policy, health services, and family welfare programs.
Excess deaths -: Excess deaths refer to the number of deaths during a specific period that is higher than expected based on historical data. It is often used to measure the impact of events like pandemics.
Methodology -: Methodology refers to the system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity. In this context, it means the way the UK study collected and analyzed data.
Union Territories -: Union Territories are regions in India that are governed directly by the Central Government. Examples include Delhi, Chandigarh, and Lakshadweep.
